Wireless and Empire

Geopolitics, Radio Industry and Ionosphere in the British Empire, 1918-1939

Aitor Anduaga

A multidisciplinary and broad-minded approach to science, technology, geopolitics and industry.

Valuable and copious archive material and sources.

A select and profuse bibliography.

Literary elegance.

Wireless and Empire

Geopolitics, Radio Industry and Ionosphere in the British Empire, 1918-1939

Aitor Anduaga

Description

Although the product of a self-proclaimed consensus politics, the British Empire was always based on communications supremacy and the knowledge of the atmosphere. Using the metaphor of a thread of five pieces representing the categories science, industry, government, the military, and the education, this is the first book to study the relations between wireless and Empire throughout the interwar period. It is also the first to make full use of the abundant archive material and rich sources existing in Britain and the Dominions. The book examines the evolving connection between the development of imperial radio communications and atmospheric physics; the expansion and strength of the British radio industry and its relationship with the elucidation of the ionosphere;
and the different extent to which Australia, Canada and New Zealand managed toemulate the British model of radio R&D in the interwar years. The book ends with a highly original and provocative epilogue: 'The realist interpretation of the atmosphere'.

Wireless and Empire

Geopolitics, Radio Industry and Ionosphere in the British Empire, 1918-1939

Aitor Anduaga

Table of Contents

1. Government, radio research and upper atmospheric sciences in Britain2. Telecommunications, geopolitics, education, and manufacturing in the British radio industry3. From dominion to nation: upper atmospheric sciences and radio research in Australia4. Telecommunications, education, manufacturing, and innovation in the Australian radio industry5. Organizing radio research in New Zealand6. Government, university, research and radio industry in CanadaPostscript: Over- stating realityEpilogue: The realist interpretation of the atmosphere

Wireless and Empire

Geopolitics, Radio Industry and Ionosphere in the British Empire, 1918-1939

Aitor Anduaga

Author Information

Current position: Research Fellow at the Basque Museum of Science and Medicine History. Biographical sketch: Research Fellow at the Universities of Oxford, Sydney, Montreal, Toronto, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin), and the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.).

Wireless and Empire

Geopolitics, Radio Industry and Ionosphere in the British Empire, 1918-1939

Aitor Anduaga

Reviews and Awards

"A remarkable and surprising story."--Malcolm Longair, University of Cambridge

"A work of serious scholarship on a subject that is important in the history of twentieth century science."--Daniel Headrick, Roosevelt University, Chicago

"An exemplary case study of the interaction between science, technology, politics and economics. The stories that Anduaga tells flow smoothly and compellingly. An impressive and original work."--Helge Kragh, University of Aarhus

"Wireless & Empire offers a fascinating study of the inter-war period and the many roles of national and imperial radio communications... the study is the result of extensive archival work in these nations, as well as a re-analysis of a great deal of earlier literature, both technical and historical. Anduaga's book joins the growing number that meld consideration of multiple players - government, military, universities and industrial researchers - to assess how technology impacts policy and provision of services." --Chris Sterling, George Washington University